Welwyn Garden City Hockey Club: Skipper proud as season ends

The first-team skipper at the Hertfordshire Sports Village-based hockey club was beaten once at Broxbourne but strikes from Stuart Stephen and Dave Allmand-Smith after the break gave them a 2-1 win.

It leaves them sixth in the East League Division Two South West table and inside the top half after 22 matches, their final record including seven wins and a draw from the second half of their campaign.

Dave Allmand-Smith finished his season with another goal. Picture: KARYN HADDON (Image: Karyn Haddon)

The game itself started at a fast pace with Allmand-Smith looking hungry for goals and Nick Reilly controlling the flow of the game.

Paul Marchant was causing problems down the wing and a number of dangerous crosses just evaded the decisive touch to open the scoring.

Allmand-Smith then went on a mazy run before seeing his crisp shot smash against the post and bounce out.

From dominating, WGC found themselves behind when a quick counter attack saw a shot initially saved by Klinger before the Broxbourne forward tucked the ball away.

It could have been two but for a great save from the keeper and a last ditch tackle from James Fowler.

There was no panic at the break though with the message to the WGC players simply to maintain their efforts.

And the deserved goals did at last arrive for the visitors.

The first started when a Broxbourne cross was blocked by Rob Sansom. Fowler cleared to Reilly who in turn shifted it on to Allmand-Smith.

In the blink of an eye, he beat a defender before releasing Stephen and he took his time before rifling the ball into the top of the net.

Allmand-Smith, Marchant and Bryn Evans all went close to increasing the lead but it was left to the former to score the winner.

Sansom again was the instigator, advancing into the opposition half before feeding Allmand-Smith in the area.

From there he unleashed an unstoppable shot that pinged off both posts before crossing the line.

And WGC then saw out the remainder of the game thanks to a solid defensive effort, led by James Lutrario and Pete Mullens making some fine tackles and the whole team working well together like they had all season.

That character from the small squad was where the pride of Klinger came in.

Elsewhere the big result came in a game not involving Welwyn.

The ladies' third team have been locked in a season-long battle with Stevenage in Division Four South West, with the final game of the year being a winner takes all battle between the two on April 15.

That is still the case but it is now advantage WGC.

They beat Harpenden 5-1 to remain undefeated but their rivals lost that tag by losing 2-1 to neighbours Blueharts.

It means Welwyn lead Stevenage by one point with the draw in the final game now favouring them.

The three other ladies' teams lost, the firsts going down 3-2 at Saffron Walden, but back in the men's side of the club, there was a 2-1 win for the seconds over Royston while the thirds drew 2-2 at Letchworth.